Rural Area Sustainability Progression Research- From City to Scenery

The 2021-2024 research for Rural Area Sustainability Progression is a 3-year study that reviewed the quality of life gaps that rural area residents experience. These deficiencies include health/medical access, food disparities, transportation, waste management, and communication limitations during general needs and emergencies.

The three-year study also included various expenses identified to help inform residents of the progress from the city’s less sustainable living to rural area environmental considerations. The data also helps distinguish what is required to maintain ecological needs and resources without compromising rural living’s natural sustainability. During the final year of the study, financial, transportation, cultural, operational, and urban deprogramming data were some of the heightened challenges identified as potential issues for residents more familiar with city and suburban amenities.

In 2024, all the collected data will be reviewed for a published report within the 2024 TSD-Environmental Education journal to help those moving from city and suburban areas to rural comprehend the realities and recommendations necessary for increasing awareness when relocating to sustainable living. The remaining portions of the data review look at amenities that modernize and result in fewer inconveniences, which can be relayed for private, state, and local stakeholders’ policy decisions for rural area resident service improvements.